'24' becomes the Brady Bunch

March 26, 07:53 PM

I don't care much about it one way or the other, but before I discuss anything that did happen in Monday (March 26) night's decidedly odd episode of 24, I want to quickly mention something that didn't: We've now gone two full hours since Martha stabbed President Logan in what the FOX promo department said was the most shocking moment in 24 history and nobody's mentioned the former president's condition. Not even in passing. Not a word.

But yes, it was an odd episode of 24 that I'm about to discuss (and therefore spoil, just in case you didn't figure on that).

How odd was it?

Well, it was another Jack-lite episode, though primetime's most patriotically directed psychotic did something even more threatening and shocking than all of the torture and mayhem and slaughter he's taken part in over the years -- he was kind and gentle to a somebody. I know. I shudder just thinking about it.

Did we previously know that Jack Bauer has a soft spot for autistics? Now we do. And potential future terrorists will learn that the most logical way to get past Jack's watchful eye in the future is to blink rapidly, play with your fingers and talk like you spent your weekend watching Rain Man. Points to friendly, computer-savvy savant Brady, who may have been hacking into the databases for a nuclear power plant, but he was doing it for a good reason -- because his brother was played by Devon Gummersall and therefore must be evil in the most bumbling, well-intentioned way possible. I'm glad to see Gummersall working again. You sexually assault one former Power Ranger in a J.J. Abrams show and the next thing you know, Keri Russell's cut her hair, Jennifer Garner's had Ben Affleck's baby and you're off the radar.

As pieces of character-writing go, Brady the Autistic was horribly contrived, but he helped CTU catch Gredenko, so somebody should get that guy on the government payroll.

Brady was odd, but was he the oddest part of the episode?

Nah. How about President Palmer spending most of the episode in a coma, nearly coding before the second-to-last commercial break and then miraculously sitting up in bed at the last second and calling off V.P. Daniels' nuclear strike? That was pretty odd. And while I'd gladly watch Powers Boothe threaten to kill everybody in the phone book, surely the writers will give Daniels a little character dimension at some point, right? He's a raving lunatic and he's being dragged down the same 25th Amendment path that this show travels whenever things get slow.

So was the recovery of Robo-Palmer the oddest part of the episode?

Nah. I'm going with the blooming of the barely developed romance between Nadia and Milo. Nadia, you see, wasn't actually the mole. There was no mole, at least not until it turns out that somebody actually was a mole, but in that case it probably won't be Nadia. After the Bill Buchanan expressed his sincere regret, Nadia came downstairs, told Milo they couldn't be more than friends and then he threw her up against the wall and shoved his tongue down her throat. I'm surprised the promo department didn't play it up as The Most Romantic Moment in 24 History.

Other quick thoughts on the episode:

Did anybody watch what was playing on the TV in Gredenko's holding room? I'm assuming it was some 20th Century Fox movie or other, but I didn't instantly recognize it.

Martha stabs Logan in the shoulder. He gets arterial bleeding. Somebody shoots Devon Gummersall in the leg and he gets arterial bleeding. President Palmer gets blown to bits, experiences brain swelling, gets put into a coma, gets pulled out of a coma, codes and he's going to be back in the War Room in a suit and tie by next week? I'd better not hear any more mockery of Wayne Palmer's manliness.

Any theories on what happened in Denver?

Thoughts on this week's episode? Opinions on making Brady a cast regular?

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Comments (40)

Comments

24 is the most inconsistent show I've ever seen. One season, it can be one of the best shows out there (see Season 5) and the next it can be the worst (see Season 6).

Does anybody really care about anything going on in this show this year? This is easily the most creatively bankrupt seasons of the show yet. At this point, I would gladly take some Kim-getting-chased-by-cougars-and-survivalists over this dreck any day of the week.

Brandon | Mar 27, 2007 4:56:47 AM | #

Nadia is hot...would like to see her naked. This year is not the best year, but still like the show very much and glad it will be around for two more years.

BATMAN | Mar 27, 2007 5:03:54 AM | #

Brandon, I agree with your assessment of this season. It's gotten so bad that if I missed an episode I wouldn't care. Up until this season 24 was a show I had to watch at the time it was being aired, and all my family members knew not to call me when it was on.

Oh well, at least I'm glad to see that Wayne has the same kind of miraculous self-healing abilities as Tony!

Xannie | Mar 27, 2007 5:54:29 AM | #

The season is deffiently not the best season the show has had. This season reminds me very much of season three where they had gotten trapped into their format and went on a killing rampage to free them up. I think the same is comming by the end of the season. I think they are seriously underusing some characters/actors in favor of those less talented (Chole in favor of Milo, Whoever that new CTU Agent is/Jack). I also think they are dropping the ball with Peter Machnicals character who started off really powerful and has now been regulated to the omg look guy. The Vice-President is not doing anything for me, he is trying to hard to be disliked and in the process its just making me not care. The Palmer sister is also not a good character in my opinion she complains and is to insecure to be one of the Palmers, David and her must have not gotten along very well as children, though I would have liked to have seen her and Sherry in the same room a few years ago that could have been a good cat fight. Does anyone else miss Sherry? There was a character that could be both compelling and one who you believed who had her and her families best interested at heart but at the same time was truely evil, thats what this show is missing now. There are no multi-demensional characters left other than Jack, and Chole who are just standing around anymore. Just curious whats everyones list of favorite seasons in order from best to last?

Season Four
Season Five
Season One
Season Two
Season Three
Season Six

is mine.

Sean | Mar 27, 2007 6:56:58 AM | #

No comment on Season Six until it's over, but here's my order:

Season Four
Season Two
Season Three
Season One
Season Five

David Pirozzi | Mar 27, 2007 7:05:35 AM | #

AGREE WITH ABOVE, NOT THE BEST SEASON BUT STILL A GREAT SHOW

BATMAN | Mar 27, 2007 7:37:39 AM | #

It is pretty clear to me that, having exhausted the possibilities of the real-time thriller genre, the producers of 24 are trying to transform the show into a comedy, sort of a bigger, badder "Arrested Development". Maybe it will be more obvious to everyone when Liza Minelli guest stars...

baslow | Mar 27, 2007 8:36:11 AM | #

Nadia's the mole. I'm more sure of it now than ever. Remember Nina Myers? This show is a model of recycling, so don't count Nadia out yet. Now that she's 'removed from suspicion' she's much more likely to be the mole in my book. I've seen this show before . . .

Siansonea | Mar 27, 2007 8:36:57 AM | #

I have to say that the white house plot is strikingly familiar to the white house plot in season two. Similarities:

-both VP's want to attack a middle eatern country
-President tries to intervene both times
-VP questions Presidents leadership and tries to have him declared unfit to lead

I guess there's been no mention of President Logan because were all meant to assume that he died.

Paul | Mar 27, 2007 8:39:17 AM | #

Maybe not the best season, but still one of the best shows on TV, and stil my all time favorite.

Paulette | Mar 27, 2007 8:50:32 AM | #

I don't know I like it but ........... Maybe next year

Jack | Mar 27, 2007 9:14:50 AM | #

I thought that Brady would snap out of his autism and betray everyone. But I guess there's not enough time left in this season to build out another storyline.

I wonder if next season there will be a new series (heh, maybe '365') covering what happened in Denver.

dre | Mar 27, 2007 9:27:16 AM | #

This year is not my favorite, I still like it, but I can record it and watch it another day, if I want. My order is

1 Season 5
2 Season 4
3 Season 1
4 Season 3
5 Season 2
6 Season 6

I hope next year is better than this year, more Jack

Nancy | Mar 27, 2007 9:30:30 AM | #

I remember a year ago, half way threw season 5 when everyone was talking about what a poor season that was. Then when it was over, it was emmy award winning season 5. The lesson here is too wait until the season is done before passing judgement. Anyone who is a true 24 fan should know that. Also it's sad how some of you go off on Season 3, season 3 was one of the best paced seasons for 24. The first half was slower, the second half picked up the pace which is exactly how it should be. The only problem about the past few seasons is that they are trying to get the season off way to quick instead of letting it build.
Season order..
5
3
4
2
1

And 6 will be judged after watching it on DVD.

Tomy | Mar 27, 2007 9:37:32 AM | #

Hey what ever happened to President Palmer's kids from season one? They don't even get mentioned. I wish next year they would do something completely different and get away form the terror in the US, and mole story lines. They should have Jack go help out another country like Britain so we don't have to see CTU at all. Kinda sick of that same office. Or have a completely computer based storyline, such as a scheme to take down the internet or do something devious with it worldwide. Maybe even have the evil guys be US militia men but no more Russsians, Asians, or Middle Eastern terrorists please!

Coco | Mar 27, 2007 10:34:00 AM | #

I have to admit, that this season is not without its flaws. The writers are getting seemingly lazy. Come on, they are going to try that whole 25th Amendment storyline again? How pathetic. I hope for the sake of originality, that it doesn't even come to a vote. And unlike the poster of this article, I'm through with Veeps. It's time for him to go. Time to get Palmer back to running the country so we can get on with the story. having said that. I disagree that this is the worst season of 24. It's definately not the best, but its not the worst.

Oh, and yes, like the above poster said, I would have loved to see a Sherry and Saundra Palmer blowout.

MY season list

1. Season 2
2. Season 1
3. Season 5
4. Season 6
5. Season 4
6. Season 3

Captain | Mar 27, 2007 10:41:28 AM | #

Daniel, I love the 'Brady Bunch' reference in your blog. By the way, Brady was played by veteran actor Scott Michael Campbell, who has guest starred in almost every TV series in the past decade (most notably on ER and Christy). Wouldn't it be great if CTU kept Brady on as one of their computer experts and got rid of Milo and Nadia?

Sorry, but their sudden romance was out of place and awkward. Nadia looked more shocked than satisfied after Milo planted a huge kiss on her.

I laughed when Wayne came around at the end of this episode. The doctor kept saying that he had swelling in the brain/conscussion from the explosion, but he seemed so 'fresh' and clear-headed with no apparent after effects. Wayne seems to heal as quickly as Jack!

Paige | Mar 27, 2007 11:38:59 AM | #

I think the reason that 24 is so inconsistent this season is because they bumped off the majority of the characters that people cared about last season. Last season was great, but the problems started back then not during this season.

They also have too many characters this season.

Their is not enough time in an hour long show to make all of these characters multi-dimensional. They need to pick out a few characters and build them up and either eliminate the less relevant characters or in some other way make them more peripheral characters.

Karen Hayes ends up in an airport for two episodes waiting for a plane, give me a break. Where is Jack's dad?

I agree about not knowing President Logan's status or what has happened to Martha and Aaron.

They had a chance to make CTU relevant when that dude (Johnson) was in a position to blackmail Ricky/Mike. But they finished off that storyline right then and there by having Mike coming forward and clearing Nadia. That story had a lot more potential.

Johnson as a character has some potential. He seems to have that special something that can keep him on the show. I like his charcter more than Mike's.

This seasons plot has to be far bigger than any viewer realizes and I hope that they can wrap things up in a nice little bow so it all makes sense, but I have my doubts.

I enjoy the show overall and will still watch it through to the end of the season. I hope the writing and acting improves.

Jane | Mar 27, 2007 11:53:04 AM | #

I think the 24 producers are finally realizing how stupid killing off all those characters was. The audience is no longer invested in a supporting cast. I could care less what happens to Milo and Nadia--is there anyway to bring back tony (haha just kidding). I still think 24 is good, its still one of the greatest shows on right now- but its definitly not as good as it used to be.

Alyssa | Mar 27, 2007 2:07:56 PM | #

Tell me - What IS as good as it used to be?

Mozo | Mar 27, 2007 2:43:49 PM | #

"Tell me - What IS as good as it used to be?" NOSTALGIA is

dk | Mar 27, 2007 2:50:09 PM | #

Naaah. NOSTALGIA was way better back in the day. ;)

Hopfrog | Mar 27, 2007 3:16:55 PM | #

Who is the formal power ranger we are talking about?

Gary | Mar 27, 2007 4:50:03 PM | #

5,4,2,1.3.6

But lets see how 6 pans out.

I think it's time to wrap up the series, and move to the movies. I still enjoy watching the show, but the 24 gimmick has run out of steam. It should make for a kick ass movie.

scott | Mar 27, 2007 4:50:35 PM | #

Nothing more to say that hasn't already been said. Just that the actors this season don't seem up to the task as previous ensambles were. No more bringing characters back for a final farewell. Looking forward to cleaning house.
It seems like you can separate '24' into two trilogies at this point. The first three and the last three seasons seem very closely connected. Time to start over, ala Season 4.
Next year perhaps could take place in D.C. with Jack working in the Department of Defense. Everyone seems replaceable at this point. Still my all time favorite show.

My list:
4, 5, 1, 3, 6, 2.

Dean | Mar 27, 2007 5:28:02 PM | #